PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juha Kankkunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly has chosen "Rude Boy" Rihanna as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kankkunen
vs
Kelly

177 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Juha Kankkunen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nathan Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kelly closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kelly manages to break the clinch.
Kelly gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kelly shoots in looking for a takedown. Kankkunen tries to sprawl out of it but Kelly keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kankkunen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kankkunen swats away the attempt to clinch by Kelly.
Kelly dives in and grabs Kankkunen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kankkunen pushes down on Kelly's head and hops out.
Kankkunen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kankkunen misses with a double jab.
Kankkunen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kelly moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Kelly moves into the clinch.
Kelly lands a good knee to the midsection. Kankkunen won't want to take too many of those.

Kelly breaks the clinch.
Kelly lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kankkunen's sensitive parts.
Juha Kankkunen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kankkunen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kelly throws a right and a left that Kankkunen avoids nicely.
Kelly on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kelly showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kankkunen.
Kelly shoots in but Kankkunen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Juha Kankkunen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Kelly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly shoots in for a takedown but Kankkunen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Juha Kankkunen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kelly looks gassed!
Kelly is looking to clinch.
Kelly takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kankkunen scores with a one two! Kelly had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kankkunen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kankkunen misses with a double jab

and Kelly moves into the clinch.

Kelly pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kankkunen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kelly on the side of the head.

Kelly rushes Kankkunen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kelly breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A right-left combo lands from Kankkunen.
Kelly has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kelly there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kankkunen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kelly shoots in for a double leg but Kankkunen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kelly closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A nice combination there by Kankkunen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen throws a right hand that Kelly ducks under and follows up with a left that Kelly also avoids with ease.
Kankkunen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kankkunen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kelly backs up against the cage.
Kankkunen cracks Kelly with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kelly fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A nice combination there by Kankkunen.
Kankkunen lands a two punch combo.
Good shot there by Kankkunen.
Kankkunen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kankkunen scores with a three punch combo!
Kankkunen tests Kelly's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kankkunen throws a series of strikes that have Kelly backpedaling.
Kankkunen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kankkunen lands with a nice combination. Kelly backs away looking to recover.
Nice uppercut lands for Kankkunen. That snapped Kelly's head back.
Kankkunen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kankkunen scores with a one two! Kelly had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kelly is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kankkunen.
Kelly takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kankkunen looks to land a combination but Kelly avoids it well.
Kankkunen is working the combinations to good effect here.
Kelly throws out a leg kick but Kankkunen moves out of range and Kelly only half commits.
Kankkunen lands with a nice combination. Kelly backs away looking to recover.
Kankkunen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kankkunen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kankkunen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kankkunen's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Kankkunen duly obliges.
Kankkunen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kelly has time to react.
Kankkunen throws a good cross that connects.
Kankkunen lands a jab-cross combination.
Kelly shoots in for a double leg but Kankkunen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kankkunen scores with a three punch combo!
Kelly has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kankkunen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kankkunen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kankkunen.
Kankkunen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A right-left combo lands from Kankkunen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen scores with a nice head shot.
Kankkunen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kankkunen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kankkunen lands with a nice combination. Kelly backs away looking to recover.
Kankkunen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kelly takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kankkunen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kankkunen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kelly on the side of the head.
Kelly has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kelly has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A right-left combo lands from Kankkunen.
Kankkunen cracks Kelly with an open hand slap.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kankkunen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kankkunen looks to land a combination. Kelly sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kelly is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kankkunen.
Kankkunen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kankkunen lands a slapping body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Kankkunen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kelly fails with the takedown.
Kankkunen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kankkunen misses with the combination.
Kelly shoots in and drives through. Kankkunen sprawls well.
Kankkunen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kankkunen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kelly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kankkunen lands a jab-cross combination.
Kelly looks for a takedown but Kankkunen sprawls well.
Juha Kankkunen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Kelly.
Kankkunen's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Kankkunen duly obliges.
A jab from Kankkunen does it's job there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kankkunen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A right-left combo lands from Kankkunen.
Juha Kankkunen is winning the standup battle so far.
Kelly is breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Kankkunen misses.
Kankkunen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kelly walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A combination from Kankkunen does no damage.
Kelly throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kankkunen tests Kelly's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kankkunen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kankkunen lands with a nice combination. Kelly backs away looking to recover.
Decent striking displayed by Kankkunen there.
Kankkunen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kankkunen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kankkunen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kankkunen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kelly.
Kankkunen misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd cheers as Kankkunen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kelly doesn't seem phased though.
Kankkunen throws a series of strikes that have Kelly backpedaling.
Kankkunen lands a body shot.
Kankkunen fails to land with a series of punches.
Kankkunen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kelly closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen cracks Kelly with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kankkunen throws a series of strikes that have Kelly backpedaling.
Kankkunen cracks Kelly with a right hand to the side of the head.
Juha Kankkunen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kelly shoots in for a takedown but Kankkunen shows good takedown defense.
Kankkunen lands a jab-cross combination.
Kankkunen scores with a one two! Kelly had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kankkunen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kankkunen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice shot lands for Kankkunen.
A left and a right from Kankkunen both land. Nice combination.
Kankkunen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Good exchange - Kankkunen coming out on top.
Kankkunen connects with a jab.
Kankkunen throws a one two combo.
Kankkunen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kankkunen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kankkunen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kankkunen lands with a nice combination. Kelly backs away looking to recover.
Danga de danga de dang - Kankkunen scores with a four punch combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kankkunen lands a nice shot that snaps Kelly's head back.
A combination from Kankkunen does no damage.
Kankkunen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kankkunen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kankkunen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kankkunen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nice uppercut there from Kankkunen.
Kankkunen lands a jab-cross combination.
Kankkunen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kankkunen scores with a three punch combo!
Kankkunen throws a one two combo.
Kankkunen stalks Kelly and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kelly's face. Kelly staggers backwards, shaken.
Kankkunen throws a series of strikes that have Kelly backpedaling.
Kankkunen scores with a jab.
Nice shot by Kankkunen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Kankkunen scores with a four punch combination!
Kankkunen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kankkunen throws a combination. Kelly tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A right-left combo lands from Kankkunen.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kankkunen!
Kankkunen misses with a combination

and Kelly counters by clinching up.
Kankkunen wants to get back to striking at distance but Kelly won't allow it.
Kelly drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kankkunen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kankkunen scores with a sloppy right hand. Kelly should have avoided that one.
Kelly has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kankkunen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kelly backs up against the cage.
Kankkunen lands with a nice body punch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kankkunen.
Kelly is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kankkunen.
Kankkunen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A right-left combo lands from Kankkunen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Kankkunen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kankkunen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kankkunen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kankkunen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kelly backs up against the cage.
Kankkunen throws a right hand that Kelly ducks under and follows up with a left that Kelly also avoids with ease.
Kelly dives in and grabs Kankkunen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kankkunen pushes down on Kelly's head and hops out.
Kankkunen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kankkunen fails to land with a series of punches.
Kelly takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kelly looks for a takedown but Kankkunen sprawls well.
Kelly has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kankkunen lands with a nice combination. Kelly backs away looking to recover.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kelly looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kankkunen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kankkunen lands a jab-cross combination.
Kankkunen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jab from Kankkunen.
Kelly takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kankkunen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kankkunen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kankkunen lands a jab-cross combination.
Kankkunen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kankkunen.
Kelly takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kankkunen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kelly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kankkunen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kankkunen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kankkunen lands a right hook to the body.
Kankkunen works over Kelly's head and body with a nice combination.
Kankkunen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kelly needs to keep his hands up - Kankkunen had a free shot at his head there.
Kelly is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kankkunen looks to land a combination. Kelly sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kankkunen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kankkunen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kankkunen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kelly is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kankkunen.
Kankkunen looks to land a combination. Kelly sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kankkunen scores with a shot to the body.
A jab from Kankkunen finds it's way through Kelly's defenses.
Kelly on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kelly is trying desperately to land a takedown but Kankkunen is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Kelly.
Kankkunen cracks Kelly with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kankkunen lands a two punch combo.
Kankkunen lands a lovely overhand right.
Kankkunen scores with a jab to the body.
Kankkunen with a hook.
Kankkunen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kelly. Kelly circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kankkunen misses with the combination.
Kankkunen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kankkunen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kankkunen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kankkunen throws a series of punches but Kelly moves out of range.
Kankkunen with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Kankkunen both land. Nice combination.
Kankkunen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kankkunen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kelly has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kelly moves forwards but Kankkunen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kankkunen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kelly with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kankkunen to score with a decent uppercut.
Kelly tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kankkunen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kankkunen lands with a nice combination. Kelly backs away looking to recover.
A right-left combo lands from Kankkunen.
Kankkunen throws a one two combo.
Kankkunen misses with a double jab

and Kelly counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kelly prevents Kankkunen from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kelly drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kankkunen dives on top into guard.
Kankkunen wants to get up but he can't break Kelly's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen is pushing down on Kelly's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kelly is fighting to maintain full guard but Kankkunen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kankkunen prevents Kelly from improving his position.
Kelly is staying active underneath Kankkunen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kelly is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juha Kankkunen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kankkunen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juha Kankkunen!